Mister Bumble

This is not my painting - but I wish it were. It's a creation from the vivid imagination of my six year old grand daughter. A 30" x 16" acrylic on canvas. We call it Mister Bumble.

Not long ago, some researchers at MIT decided to look into the world of creativity and employed two control groups - one adult the other small children. Both groups were asked the following question ... " what's a brick for ?". The adult group all replied along the same lines - to build with, for housing, for walls, for pavements and so forth.

The children saw things quite differently. Since their imaginations had not yet been tarnished with being taught that - sky is blue, grass is green, bricks are red ---- and remember to stay within the lines. Here's some of the childrens responses:

" If I had two I'd tie them onto my feet and be taller than my sister "

" They'd make great walnut crackers by banging together "

" If I threw one through Sym's Jewellry window I'd be rich "

Not one thought the obvious - they had not as yet been adult-erated. Don't I wish I had some of this imagination now when I sit at the easel to paint. Indeed I do.